Floor structures convertible to a shipping support



D. w. HANIFAN 3,361,401

FLOOR STRUCTURE CONVERTIBLE TO A SHIPPING SUPPORT Jan. 2, 1968 5 Sheets-Sheet :2

Filed Jan.

INVENTOR.

'fTarm/Lv.

Jan. 2, 1968 D. w. HANIFAN 3,361,401

FLOOR STRUCTURE CONVERTIBLE TO A SHIPPING SUPPORT Filed Jan. 5, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 \N iw-747i u! #4772254171 /Af/ L/ BY l bf /Mf/ZM United States Patent O 3,361,491 FLOOR STRUCTURES CONVERTIBLE T A SHIPPING SUPPORT Donald W. Hanifan, Livoma, Mich., assigner to Evans Products Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 3, 1966. Ser. No. 513,938 11 Claims. (Cl. 248-119) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A railway car door construction embodying door assemblies made up of a number of pivotally inter-connected members which in one position yform a cargo carrying door and form a localized elevated supporting surface in another position. Latching structures are included for locking the iioor members together in their elevated position and for locking the members to the underframe of the car when the door members are in their door forming position.

This invention relates to a railway car and more particularly to a convertible lloor structure for a railway car or the like that adapts the car to the transportation of various types of loads.

Flat bedded vehicles such as railway fiat cars are employed to transport a wide variety of articles. With certain types of transported articles it is desirable to stack the articles upon risers in the form of wood planks or the like so that the load will be supported at a spaced distance above the vehicle floor. This method of loading permits the articles to be moved onto or olf of the car by means of a fork truck, the forks of which slide into the space between the load and the vehicle floor.

'Ihe use of separate risers for elevating the load has several disadvantages. If the risers are separate elements, they can easily become lost when the vehicle is being transported in an empty condition and it is dificult to correctly position the risers. The aforementioned defect can readily be cured by iixing the risers in position upon the vehicle floor, however, this destroys the usefulness of the floor and vehicle for hauling other loads that either do not require elevation or can not be carried in such a manner.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to provide a railway car floor structure that permits ready conversion of the car to hauling `different types of loads.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a convertible floor structure for a load carrying vehicle that may be used to support loads in an elevated position or in a non-elevated carrying position.

A convertibleoor structure for a freight carrying vehicle embodying this invention adapts the Ivehicle to the transportation of a variety of articles. The door structure comprises means adapted to form at least in part a door surface and means for supporting the oor structure rneans for movement relative to the vehicle between first and second operative positions. The door structure means is disposed to provide a substantially planar door surface in the lirst operative position for supporting articles requiring such a supporting surface. The iloor structure is disposed to provide an elevated, localized supporting surface in its second operative position for elevated support for articles and t0 provide an access area below the articles.

In a convertible door structure of the type disclosed in the preceding paragraph, it is desirable to insure that the floor structure will not shake loose from either operative position when the vehicle is unloaded or when the respective floor structure is carrying only partial or light loads.

It is, therefore, a still further object of the invention to provide a locking mechanism for retaining the tloor structure in at least one of its operative positions.

.'ilhfidl Patented Jan. 2, 1968 ICC It is an even still further object of the invention to provide a locking mechanism for retaining the lioor structure in each of its operative positions.

A convertible floor structure embodying the afore-men tioned features includes latch means carried by at least a portion of the oor structure yfor coaction with other latch means for retaining the floor structure in at least one of its operative positions. The latch structure is constructed and arranged to automatically engage upon movement of the Hoor structure into the operative position.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent as this description proceeds, particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective view of a railway flat lcar embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view, in part similar to FIGURE 3, showing the iloor structure in another position;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of FIGURE 2 on a somewhat larger scale; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular to FIGURE l, a dat bed, multi-purpose railway car embodying this invention is shown partially and is identifled generally by the reference numeral 11. It is to be understood that although this invention is described in conjunction with a railway car, it is susceptible for use in other freight transporting vehicles or may, in fact, be used in warehouses. The underframe construction of the railway car 11 may -be considered to be conventional and is comprised in part of generally channel shaped side sills 12 and 13, a built-up center sill structure 14, and longitudinally extending car stringers 15, 16, 17, 1d, 19 and 21. Trucks 22 support one end of the railway car 11 and similar trucks (not shown) are provided at the other end of the car 11.

Fixedly supported upon the upper surface of the car frame and extending transversely to the side sills 12 and 13, center sill 14 and stringers 15 through 21, are a plurality of inverted hat-shaped structural steel members 23, 24, 25, 25, 27 and 2%, etc. Supported above the outstanding flanges 2i? of each of the hat-shaped members 23 through 2S, are a plurality of transversely extending lumber pieces 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, etc. The lumber pieces are fixed relative to the car frame by means of bolts and nuts (not shown) that extend through apertures 37 formed in each of the lumber pieces at transversely spaced locations. The upper surface of the lumber pieces and the top surfaces of the hat-shaped members lie in substantially the same plane so as to provide a fixed planar floor surface.

It will be noted that gaps exist between pairs of the lumber members, for example, between the members 3l and 32. These gaps are filled by a plurality of convertible car door structures, indicated generally by the reference numerals 38, 39, 41, 42, 43 and 44. Each transversely extending gap is filled by a pair of the converti-ble car floor structures. The use of two such structures in a given transverse gap, each extending half the Width of the car, permits greater versatility for the car usage and also permits the floor structure to be moved between its operative positions by a single workman.

Since each of the convertible car structures 38 through 44 are substantially the same, only one will be described in detail, reference now being had to the remaining figures. The convertible floor structure is comprised of three generally like shaped elongated oor members 45, 46

and 47. The door members 45 through 47 are depicted i as being formed from steel channels, however, other ma- 'the web 51 of the oor member 45 lies substantially iu the same plane as the upper surface of the adjacent, fixed lumber oor member 34.

A rst pair of hinge assemblies 52 and 53 pivotaliy connect the Hoor members 45 and 46 with respect to each other at their adjacent upper edges when viewed in the extended position. Each of the hinge assemblies 52 and 53 is identical and comprises a iirst pivot pin 54 that is affixed, as by welding, at each of its ends to the oor member 45 adjacent the juncture between the web 51 and a short leg 55, that is adjacent to the floor member 46 when the oor members are in their ex tended position. A second pivot pin 56 is aixed, as by welding, at each of its ends to the floor member 46 at the juncture between the web 57 and a short leg 5S which is adjacent to the short leg 55 of the floor member 45 in the extended position of the tioor assembly. Cutouts 59 and 61 (FIGURE 5) are formed adjacent the pins 54 and 56 in the respective legs of the floor members 45 and 46. The cutouts are shorter in length than the pivot pins 54 and 56 (FIGURE 2).

Each hinge assembly is completed lby a iirstr strap or plate 62 and a second strap or plate 63 that are Welded together to form a generally rectangular cavity in which the pivot pins 54 and 56 are received. The opposite sides of the pivot pins 54 and 56, however, are snugly engaged by the plate members 62 and 63 which are not otherwise fixed to either of the floor members 45 and 46. The plate 62 also is longer and formed with a pair of extending legs 64 and 65.

A second pair of hinge assemblies, indicated generally by the reference numerals 66 and 67, pivotally connect the floor members 46 and 47 contiguous to their adjacent lower ends when viewed in the extended position. Each of the hinge assemblies 66 and 67 is substantially the same, except as will ybe noted, and comprises a first leaf 68 that extends across the lower in-turned anges 69 and 71 of the floor member 46 and is aiiixed thereto, as by welding. A similar leaf 72 is axed'by welding to lower in-turned flanges 73 and 74 of the oor member 47. A pair of spaced bushing members 75 are xed, as by welding, to the leaf 68 and receive a hinge pinV 76, the ends of which are atlxed after assembly by tack welding to the bushing member 75. A bushing member 77 is Vaiiixed. by welding to the leaf 72 between the bushings 75 to journal the hinge pin 76 after assembly. A pair Yof spacer plates 78 are welded to the underside of the floor members 46 and 47V at a spaced location from the hinge assemblies 66 and 67. Each of the plates 78 has a thickness corresponding to the thickness of the hinge leaves 68 and 72 so as to provide support along the length of the floor members 46 and 47 when they are in their stacked position, as will become more apparent as this description proceeds.

Each of the convertible car oor assemblies 38 through 44 isfmovable from a first operative position wherein the upper surfaces of the floor members 45, 46 and 47 and 44 are depicted in this position. In such a position a substantial areaof the floor of the railway car 11 is flat Vor substantially so whereby loads requiring such a supporting surface may be carried upon the oor or portions of .it in this position. In the other operative position,

' whichis the stacked position as shown in FIGURE l -by the position assumed by the oor assemblies 38, 39 and 41`and the position shown in FIGURE 4, certain loads may be carried at a spaced location above the oor. Thus the web 79 of the door member 46 defines an elevated supporting surface and adjacent pairs of the floor assemblies may be elevated so that certain types of loads, for example, stacks of lumber as indicated generally by the reference numeral Sil, may be supported thereupon. The elevated supporting position provided by the stacked oor assemblies 39 and 41 elevates the lumber 80 above the remainder of the car floor so that the forks of a fork truck or other similar device may pass beneath the lumber stack Si) for loading and unloading.

Although various types of folding'arrangements may be used to swing each of the convertible car iloors from their extended to their stacked position, in one method of operation the floor members 46 and 4'7 are swung as a unit about a pivot axis defined by the pivot pins 54 of the hinge assemblies 52 and 53. After the oor members46 and 47 are swung into a vertical position, the iioor members 46 and 47 continue to be swung as a unit but now about the pivot axis dened by the pivot pins 56 until the iloor member 46 lieswith its web 57 resting upon the web 51 of the xed tioor member 45. In this position (FIGURE 4) the hinge assemblies 52 and 53 interconnecting the floor members and 46 move to bring the plate 62 rather than the plate 63 into registry with the openingprovided by the cutouts 59 and 61. Its legs 64 and 65 then engage the adjacent surfaces of the floor members 45 and 46. Thus, the members 63 and 62 ll the gap left by the cutouts 59 and 61 regardless of the respective positions of the oor members 45 and 46.

When the oor members 46 and 45 are stacked upon each other, the oor member 47 is swung about the pivot pin 76 of the hinge assemblies 66 and 67 to bring the hinge leaves 63 and 72 into contact so that the tloor member 47 is stacked upon and supported by the floor member 46. Thus, the floor members may be conveniently and readily moved between their stackedrand extended positions to provide two'operative positions for each of the floor assemblies. In the stacked position elevating supporting surfaces are provi-ded by the webs l79 of the floor members 47 and in the extended position a n ence numeral 81, is contained Within the floor member 46 for locking the oor members 45 and 46 together when aixed, as by welding, to the latching pin 82 in the space substantially planar oor surface is` provided by the webs 51, 57 and 79 of the floor members 45, 46 and 47, respectively. In the stacked position, the contact between the plates 78 provides support between the ioorV members 46 and 47 yat the location spaced from the hinge assemblies 66 and 67 so that support will be provided at spaced intervals along the length of each oor assembly in all positions.

yA latch mechanism, indicated generally by the refer-` in ytheir stacked relationship. The latch mechanism 81 is comprised of a latching pin 82 that is supported for sliding movement within a bushing 83 that extends into and is fixed within a circular aperture 84 formed in the web 57 of the floor member 46.V A steel Washer 85 is between the upper end of the 'bushing member 83 and the space between the anges 69 and 71. A coil spring 86.

encircles the bushing 83 and latching pin 82 and engages the underside of the washer 85 to normally urge the latch ing pin 82 through an; aperture 87 formed in the leaf 68 of the hinge `assembly 67.The washer 85 will contact the upper surface of the leaf 68 to limit the degree of this movement. This is the position assumed by the latch.

mechanism 81 when the licor structure is in its extended position (FIGURE 3). kIn this position, the upper end of the latching pin 82 lies below. the web 57 so thatit will be protected and not subject to damage whenrthe floor structure is loaded.

When the floor structure is swung into its stacked relaf it downwardly causing compression of the spring 86. The latching pin 82 is then forced through a circular aperture 88 formed in the web 51 of the fioor member 45, thus precluding the possibility that the oor member 46 will shake oi of the oor member 45. When the floor members 46 and 47 are again operated toward their extended position, the latch mechanism 81 Will automatically be released by the action of the precompressed spring 86.

A lock mechanism, indicated by the reference numeral 101, is also provided to lock the iioor members 46 and 47 in their stacked position. If desired, the lock mechanism 101 may also be employed to lock the floor members in the extended position. The lock mechanism 191, which is shown in more detail in FIGURES 3, 4 and 6, comprises a forging 102 having an elongated journal portion 163 in which a cylindrical bore 194 is formed. The forging 1&2 is pivotally supported upon a pivot pin 105 that extends through the cylindrical bore 164 and is xed, as by welding, at each of its ends to a pair of support plates 106 and 107 which span the forging portion 1t13. The plates 196 and 1137 are welded into the door member 47 between its tiange 74 and web 79 adjacent a short leg 108.

The forging has an integral operating handle 1139 formed at its upper end that is accessible through an access opening 111 formed in the web 79 of the floor member 47. The access opening 111 also is wide enough to form an opening through which an operators hand may be extended for movement of the floor assembly, as will become more apparent, Depending integrally from the journal portion 103 is a locking part 112 having offset hook 113. The locking part 112 depends through the space provided between the flanges 73 and 74 and through an aperture 114 formed in the leaf 72 of the strap hinge 67. In the stacked position (FIGURE 4) the hook portion 113 passes through an elongated rectangular aperture 115 formed in the leaf 63 of the strap hinge assembly 67 and lies under the liange 69 of the iioor member 46 and is retained by gravity, or a spring if desired, in this position. Thus, the hook portion 113 precludes rotation of the floor members 46 and 47 relative to each other about the hinge pin 76 of the hinge assemblies 66 and 67. Therefore, the floor members 46,

7 and 45 are all locked relative to each other in a stacked position so that they will not be able to shake from this position.

The lock assembly 161, as has been noted, may also be employed to retain the convertible car floor assemblies in their extended position. In this position the hook portion 113 cooperates with a locking bar 116 that may be suitably affixed to any portion of the railway car understructure.

As has been noted, the opening 111 permits convenient grasping of the iioor member 47 for moving the ioor structures between their stacked and extended positions. A similar hand hole opening 121 may be provided adjacent the opening 111 so that a workman may grasp the fioor structure with both hands. This permits convenient one-man operation of the iioor structures which is also facilitated by their relatively short length with respect to the width of the railway car. The lock assembly 101 also can be released simultaneously with the grasping of the iioor member 47 through the opening 111 for convenient operation. The lock assembly 101 also may be released through the use of a long handle hook member (not shown) that may be inserted through the opening 111 and engaged with an opening 121 provided in the forging 102. The latch mechanism 81 need not be engaged nor released since it is fully automatic in operation, as has been described.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed are well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A convertible floor structure for a freight carrying vehicle for adapting the vehicle to the transportation of a variety of articles comprising means adapted to form at least in part a door structure, means for supporting said floor structure means for movement relative to the vehicle between first and second operative positions, said floor structure means being disposed to provide a substantially planar oor surface in said iirst operative position for supporting articles requiring such a supporting surface, said floor structure means being disposed to provide an elevated localized supporting surface in said second operative position for elevated support of articles and providing an access area below articles supported in said second operative position, said floor structure means being comprised of at least three floor members, a first of said oor members being fixed relative to the vehicle, the second and third of said floor members being connected to each other and to said first door member by said supporting means, said supporting means comprising first connecting means connecting said second iioor member to said first iioor member for relative movement between a side-by-side relationship and a stacked relationship with said second floor member being supported upon said first floor member and second connecting means connecting said third iioor member to said second door member for relative movement between a side-by-side relationship and a stacked relationship with said third oor member being supported upon said second floor member, the side-by-side relationship of said iioor members forming the first operative position of said fioor structure means and the stacked relationship of said iioor members forming the second operative position, and latching means carried at least in part by said fioor structure for locking at least portions of said floor structure in both operative positions.

2. A convertible floor structure for a freight carrying vehicle for adapting the vehicle to the transportation of a variety of articles comprising means adapted to form at least in part a floor structure, means for supporting said oor structure means for movement relative to the vehicle between first and second operative positions, said floor structure means being disposed to provide a substantially planar floor surface in said first operative position for supporting articles requiring such a supporting surface, said fioor structure means being disposed to provide an elevated localized supporting surface in said second operative position for elevated support of articles and providing an access area below articles supported in said second operative position, said floor structure means being comprised of at least three floor members, a first of said iioor members being fixed relative to the vehicle, the second and third of said floor members being connected to each other and to said first oor member by said supporting means, said supporting means comprising first connecting means connecting said second oor member to said first floor member for relative movement between a side-byside relationship and a stacked relationship with said second iioor member being supported upon said first floor member and second connecting means connecting said third floor member to said second oor member for relative movement between a side-by-side relationship and a stacked relationship with said third licor member being supported upon said second yiioor member, the side-byside relationship of said iioor members forming the first operative position of said iioor structure means and the stacked relationship of said floor members forming the second operative position, first latching means cooperating with said first and said second floor members for locking said rst and said second oor members relative to each other in their stacked relationship, and second latching means cooperating with said second and said third floor members for locking said second and said third iioor members in their stacked relationship.

3. A convertible oor structure for a freight carrying vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second latching means comprises a locking member supported by the third oor member for movement between an unlatched and a latched position.

4. A convertible oor structure for a freight carrying vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the first latching means comprises a latching pin supported for sliding movement by the second floor member, an aperture in the iirst oor member for receiving said latching pin to preclude relative movement of said second iloor member away from its stacked relationship upon said first oor member, and means for biasing said latching pin toward a disengaged position away from said aperture, the third oor member being adapted to urge said latching pin into engagement with said aperture and away from said disengaged position when said third oor member is in its stacked relationship upon said second floor member and said second floor member is in its stacked relationship upon said first floor member.

5. A convertible oor structure for a freight carrying vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein the locking member engages a cooperating locking part of the second oor member when said second Hoor member and the third floor member are in their stacked relationship and when said locking member is in its latched position.

6. A convertible ioor structure for a freight carrying vehicle as set forth in claim 5 further including a co operating fixed locking member carried by the vehicle and wherein the locking member engages said cooperating xed locking member carried by the vehicle when the oor structure is in the rst operative position and said locking member is in its latched position.

7. A convertible oor structure for a freight carrying vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein the second latching means is comprised of a latching member pivotally supported by the third floor member for movement between latehed and unlatched positions, said latching meml ber having a locking hook portion at one end and a release portion at the other end thereof,'and a cooperating locking member carried by 4the vehicle adapted. to overlie said hook portion in a rst relative position of said members and when said latching member is in its latched position for precluding relative movement of said floor members. v

8. A convertible floor structure for a freight carrying vehicle as set forth in claim 7 wherein each of the oor v members comprises a generally channel shaped member having a pair of inwardly extending anges formed at the extremity of their short legs, one of said flanges of the second oor member comprising the cooperating locking member.

9. A convertible floor structure for a freight carrying vehicle'as set forth in claim 8 and further including a cooperating locking member carried by the vehicle and adapted tooverlie the hook portion when the oor members are in their side-by-side relationship for locking said oor members in said relationship.

' 10. A convertible lioor structure for a freight carrying vehicle for adapting the vehicle to the transportation of a variety of articles comprising means adapted to form at least in part a'oor structure, means for supporting said floor structure means for movement relative tothe vehicie between rst and second operative positions, said oor structure means being disposed to provide a substantially planar floor surface in said first operative position for supporting articles requiring such a supporting surface, said floor structure means being disposed to provide an elevated localized supporting surface in said second operativeA position for elevated support of articles and providing an access area below articles supported in said second operative position, said floor structure means being comprised of at least three floor members, a first of said floor members being fixed relative to the vehicle, the second and third of said hoor members being connected to each other and to said first oor member by said supporting means, said supporting means comprising lirst connecting means connecting said second floor member to said first iioor member for relative movement between a side-by side relationship and a stacked relationship with said second oor member being supported upon said first floor member and second connecting means connecting said third licor member to said second oor member forY relative movement between a side-by-side relationship and a stacked relationship with said third -iloor member being supported upon said second oor member, the sidebyside relationship of said oor members formino theV rst operative position of said oor structure means and the stacked relationship of said ioor members forming the second operative position, and latching means carried` at least in partrby said oor structure for locking said oor structure in at least one of said operative positions,V

said latching means comprising a locking member supported by said third oor member for movement between an unlatched and a latched position, said locking member engaging a cooperating locking part of said second oor member when said second floor member and said third floor member are in their stacked relationship and when said locking member is in its latched position.

11. A convertible licor structure for a freight carrying vehicle as set forth in claim 1) further including a cooperating Xed locking member carried by the vehicle and wherein the locking member engages said cooperating fixed locking member carried bythe vehicle when the oor structure is in the lirst operative position and said locking member is in its latched position.

References Cited ROY D. FRAZIER, Prima/ly Examiner.

ROBERT P. SEITTER, Assistant Examiner. 

